Wallowa County Fall

Snow covered Mt Joseph and the sublime Wallowa mountains, overlooking Wallowa Lake and glowing yellow cottonwoods.  One could not find a prettier place anywhere else in the world!

The town of Joseph, a blend of the cowboy heritage and the cultural renaissance, serves as a gateway to the Lake and the mountains.  The sculpture work that fill the main street are set off the the fall reds and blue skies.

Joseph OR

Joseph OR

Joseph OR, Chief Joseph

Wallowa Mts, Chief Joseph Mt

Ruby Peak, Wallowa County

Mt Joseph, Wallowa Lake

Wallowa Lke

Iwetemlaykin State Historic Site at Wallowa Lake

Iwetemlaykin, the Nez Perce word for "at the edge of the lake, captures the meaning of  this magnificent State Park that overlooks Wallowa Lake, the ancestral home of the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce Indians. Chief Joseph Mt dominates the skyline as one enjoys walking this historic site.

Meg and I enjoyed hiking through with our grandchildren who were visiting from New Zealand. The enjoyed hearing the story of Chief Joseph and his efforts to lead his band safely to Canada after having the band's land forcibly taken from them.

Iwetemlaykin, Mt Joseph

Iwetemlaykin, Mt Joseph

Wallowa Lake, Wallowa Mts, the Iwetemlaykin Park is just to the right, outside this picture.

Iwetemlaykin, Mt Joseph

Iwetemlaykin, Mt Joseph

Iwetemlaykin, Mt Joseph

Iwetemlaykin, Mt Joseph

Things of eternity

"Use the things of the world, but long for the things of eternity.  You cannot be fully satisfied by material possessions, for you are simply not made to gain ultimate happiness from them"  Thomas a Kempis

I need to remember always that life is eternal, and the "trinkets" I earn or desire are transitory.

Wallowa Mts, Wallowa County, OR

Siletz Bay, Oregon Coast

The stream of life

As I recently composed a picture of a fall stream at Wahkeena Falls in Oregon's Columbia Gorge, I pictured my  life as one of those leaves. I am often tossed and turned, sped up and slowed down, but I am always in this water of life that is God. I rest at times with other travelers, and other times I am alone except for God.  And ultimately, I am no more, dissolved into this water, finally no longer separated from God.

Wahkeena Falls, Columbia Gorge

Franconia Notch

God is life

Continuing with thoughts about the nearness and intimacy of God in our lives, I have enjoyed this statement:

"God is life, not a vending machine full of trifles to fit the whims of the human race. God is the beginning of life, the coming of life, the fulfillment of life, the essence of life, the end of life."

Mt Emily, Union County Oregon

Mt Emily, Gangloff Park, La Grande

The Upper Rogue River

The Upper Rogue River flows through remarkable Oregon geology.  Narrow and deep basalt canyons create intense, accelerating river movement; lave tubes suck the river underground.  There are two excellent, short hiking trails just off Hwy 62 as you travel east or west in the Medford--Diamond Lake direction.  And, traveling east, you are rewarded by the magnificent spire of Mt Thielsen, that resembles the Paramount Pictures iconic mountain.

Mt Thielsen

Rogue River

Rogue River

Rogue River

Rogue River

Rogue River

Crater Lake, Wizard Island

The first snowfall transformed Crater Lake and Wizard Island into a magical kingdom that only snow and light can create. The skies cleared in the early morning, and Meg and I were deeply draw into the lake's incredible silence and serenity.

Crater Lake

Crater Lake

Wizard Island

Wizard Island

Crater Lake lodge

Crater Lake

His seeking us

I can remember the early years of my spiritual journey when I thought God basically ignored me and I somehow had to "grab" God's attention from His place far beyond any place I could imagine. Now I know He is right here, His Kingdom immediately present, seeking me.  Henri Nouwen and St Augustine describe this Presence so well:

"I am beginning now to see how radically the character of my spiritual journey will change when I no longer think of God as hiding and making it as difficult as possible for me to find Him, but instead as the one who is looking for me while I am the one doing the hiding." Henri Nouwen

"My God, I would not exist, I would not even be at all, if you were not in me."  St Augustine

Crater Lake    Leviticus 26:12 " I will walk among you..."